![Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has told a conference in Belém that "extremist forces" around the world continue to "peddle untruths to [...] imprison future generations in an outdated model that perpetuates social and economic disparities and environmental degradation."](https://sustainabilityonline.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/image-1600-14f3af37d185975ae6b47.png)
Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has told a conference in Belém that “extremist forces” around the world continue to “peddle untruths to […] imprison future generations in an outdated model that perpetuates social and economic disparities and environmental degradation.”
At the Belém Climate Summit, which takes place ahead of COP30 next week in Brazil, president Lula noted that to move forward, it will be necessary for the world to overcome two discrepancies – the first of which is the disconnection between the “halls of diplomacy” and the real world.
“People may not understand the meaning of emissions or metric tonnes of carbon, but they feel the pollution,” he commented, adding that the concept of “mutirão“, which translates as a collective effort around a common goal, is likely to be at the heart of discussions at COP30.
Geopolitical context
The second discrepancy, he added, is the disconnect between the geopolitical context and the climate emergency.
Without identifying particular individuals or countries by name, he said, that “strategic rivalries and armed conflicts divert attention and drain the resources that should be channeled to confronting global warming.
“Meanwhile, the window of opportunity for our action is closing rapidly. […] It will be impossible to contain it without overcoming inequalities within and between nations.”
‘COP of truth’
COP30 commences in Belém on Monday 10 November, the first time it will take place in the heart of the Amazon.
“There is no greater symbol of the environmental cause than the Amazon rainforest,” president Lula added, calling on COP30 to be a “COP of truth”, with international cooperation and multilateralism at its heart.
“It is time to take the warnings of science seriously,” he said. “It is time to face reality and decide whether we have the courage and determination needed to transform it.”
UN secretary general António Guterres also addressed the summit, adding that countries needed to move beyond negotiation and focus on carrying out commitments.
“This is no longer the time for negotiations. It is time for implementation, implementation, and implementation,” he said. Read more here and here. [Photo: Rafa Neddermeyer/COP30 Brazil Amazon/PR]
